Billiards Shootout for $130,000 Purse October 21-22 at Resorts Atlantic City

Tony Robles

Billiards champions from around the world will go head-to-head October 21-22 in the SKINS BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP. The 2005 event will be held at the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Olhausen Billiard Manufacturing is proud to be the Official Table Sponsor for the second year in a row!

The SKINS is widely considered the toughest tournament to win in professional billiards. Once each year sixteen champions and legends of the sport are brought together in a shootout with a pressure-cooker format for $130,000 in prize money. The purse is the largest of any invitational event in the world, and the winner claims one of the most coveted titles in pool - Skins Billiards Champion.

The 2005 field includes top stars of the sport. Johnny Archer, 2005 Southeast 9-Ball Open Champion. Thorsten Hohmann, 2005 BCA 9-Ball Open Champion. Corey Deuel, 2005 Pro Tour Championship Champion. Shawn Putnam, 2005 Pro Players Championship Champion. Charlie Williams, 2005 Planet 9-Ball Open Champion. Marlon Manalo, 2005 Reno 9-Ball Open Champion. Ralf Souquet, 2005 Interpool 9-Ball Open Champion. Rodney Morris, 2005 WPA World 9-Ball Championship Third. Luc Salvas, 2005 Canadian 9-Ball Open Champion. Troy Frank, 2005 Pittsburgh 9-Ball Open Runner-up. Tony Robles, 2005 Pittsburgh 9-Ball Open Third. Danny Basavich, 2004 Reno 9-Ball Open Champion. Gabe Owen, 2004 U.S. Open 9-Ball Champion. Mika Immonen, 2004 Atlanta Open 9-Ball Champion. Santos Sambajon, 2004 World Summit 9-Ball Open Champion. Keith McCready, 2004 Joss Tour Champion. Resorts Atlantic City, the Host Site, will make the 2005 event ADMISSION FREE to pool fans from around the USA and the world. The tournament will be held in the Super Stars Theater, and there will be seven playing sessions in the two-day invitational tournament. On Friday, October 21, the four quarterfinal rounds will be played at 1PM, 3PM, 6PM, and 8PM. On Saturday, October 22, the two semifinals will be played at 3PM and 4:30PM, and the Championship match will be played at 7:30PM. The semifinals and the Championship match will be taped for telecast on ESPN.

The SKINS BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP is regarded as the supreme test of skill in the sport. The tournament format, somewhat similar to Skins in golf, is the most demanding test of 9-Ball skill in professional billiards. Four players compete against each other in a match, with twelve games to a match, and a player must win three games in a row to win a Skin. There are four Skins to a match, with each Skin worth larger amounts of money, and money not won in a Skin carries over to the next Skin. The players could go to sudden death for $21,000 in each semifinal and $54,000 in the Championship match. On the final night, one of the players will claim the SKINS BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP crown. The trophy and the winner's check will be presented by Resorts Atlantic City and Olhausen Billiards, and Viking Cues will award a special presentation cue. The tournament is also sponsored by Aramith Super Pro Balls, Simonis Cloth, Mueller Recreational Products, Original Italian Slate, Ozone Billiards and Silver Cup Chalk.

The 2005 event will be the premier tournament of the year, and will be televised on ESPN in early 2006. Those attending should arrive early for each tournament session since the event is Admission Free. Make plans today to attend the 2005 SKINS BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP. For information call 860-379-8414 or visit the website at www.SKINSbilliards.com. Olhausen, located in Poway, California, is known for their beautifully hand-crafted pool tables and fine line of matching game room accessories. The Olhausen Authorized Dealer Network extends throughout the United States and the world. Olhausen products are proudly made in the USA and are available in Oak, Maple, Cherry, and a variety of exotic hardwoods, which can be custom-finished to match your décor. Olhausen Billiard Manufacturing, Inc. is celebrating over 30 years in the business and has consistently pursued a tradition of dedication to Quality, Service, Selection, and Value. These attributes have earned the company the title of "The Best in Billiards."

For more information about Olhausen or its products, call 1-800-866-4606 or log on to Olhausen's World Wide Web Site at (http://www.olhausenbilliards.com).

File photo courtesy of Diana Hoppe - Pool Pics by Hoppe